[Federal Register Volume 63, Number 225 (Monday, November 23, 1998)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 64670-64671]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 98-31400]


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ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

40 CFR Part 745

[OPPTS-00256; FRL-6047-6]
RIN 2070-AC83


Round Table Discussion of the Upcoming Lead Renovation and 
Remodeling Rulemaking; Notice of Public Meeting

AGENCY: Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Proposed rule; notice of public meeting

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SUMMARY: EPA will hold a round table discussion meeting on the 
forthcoming rulemaking under section 402(c)(3) of the Toxic Substances 
Control Act (TSCA). Section 402(c)(3) directs the Agency to revise the 
regulations on lead-based paint activities to apply to renovation or 
remodeling activities that create lead-based paint hazards in target 
housing. The purpose of this discussion is to provide a forum where 
interested parties can contribute information and give individual 
perspectives on specific policy questions related to this forthcoming 
rulemaking. Agency staff may also ask participants to give their 
individual reactions to specific proposals and questions.

DATES: The meeting will be from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on December 7, 
1998. Written comments must be submitted on or before January 15, 1999.

ADDRESSES: The meeting will be held at the Holiday Inn Rossyln 
Westpark, 1900 North Fort Meyer Dr., Arlington, VA.
    Each comment must bear the docket control number OPPTS-00256. All 
comments should be sent in triplicate to: OPPT Document Control Officer 
(7407), Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics, Environmental 
Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., Rm. G-099, East Tower, Washington, 
DC 20460.
    Comments and data may also be submitted electronically to: 
[email protected]. Follow the instructions in Unit III. of this notice.

[[Page 64671]]

No Confidential Business Information (CBI) should be submitted through 
e-mail.
    All comments which contain information claimed as CBI must be 
clearly marked as such. Three copies, sanitized of any comments 
containing information claimed as CBI, must also be submitted and will 
be placed in the public record for this rulemaking. Persons submitting 
information, any portion of which they believe is entitled to treatment 
as CBI by EPA, must assert a business confidentiality claim in 
accordance with 40 CFR 2.203(b) for each such portion. This claim must 
be made at the time that the information is submitted to EPA. If a 
submitter does not assert a confidentiality claim at the time of 
submission, EPA will consider this as a waiver of any confidentiality 
claim and the information may be made available to the public by EPA 
without further notice to the submitter.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Technical Information: Mike Wilson, 
National Program Chemicals Division (7404), Office of Pollution 
Prevention and Toxics, Environmental Protection Agency, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC 20460, telephone: (202) 260-4664, e-mail address: 
[email protected].
    Meeting Registration: National Lead Information Center at 1-800-
424-LEAD.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 
(Title X) amended TSCA by adding a new Title IV. Several sections of 
Title X direct EPA to promulgate regulations to fulfill the purposes of 
Title X. These include TSCA section 402, Lead-Based Paint Activities 
Training and Certification, which directs EPA to promulgate regulations 
to govern the training and certification of individuals engaged in 
lead-based paint activities, the accreditation of training programs, 
and to establish standards for conducting lead-based paint activities. 
Section 404 of TSCA requires that EPA establish procedures for States 
seeking to establish their own lead-based paint activities programs. On 
August 29, 1996, EPA promulgated final rules that implemented sections 
402 and 404 of TSCA entitled ``Lead; Requirements for Lead-Based Paint 
Activities in Target Housing and Child-Occupied Facilities.'' These 
rules are codified at 40 CFR part 745, subpart L. Section 402(c)(3) of 
TSCA directs the Agency to revise these regulations so they apply to 
renovation or remodeling activities which create lead-based paint 
hazards in target housing.

II. Round Table Discussion

    The purpose of this meeting is to obtain individual input and 
comment on the regulatory options for modification of existing lead-
based paint activities regulations. The existing regulations are 
codified at 40 CFR part 745, Subpart L--Lead-Based Paint Activities.
    The round table discussion will examine the following issues: which 
contractors are engaged in renovation and remodeling activities that 
create a lead based paint hazard; which activities present the greatest 
potential hazard; how to promote lead safe renovation in a non-
regulatory fashion; and implementation issues. Although there will be 
some discussion of the technical studies, EPA would like to focus on 
policy questions (e.g, establishing a deminimis area of deteriorated 
lead-based paint). EPA is currently planning to hold two meetings, 
completing the discussion in early 1999. All meetings will be held in 
Washington, DC and will be open to the public.
    Individuals wishing to provide comments to EPA, but who cannot 
attend the round table discussion may submit written comments to EPA at 
the address listed under ``ADDRESSES'' in this notice. In order to be 
included in the synopsis of comments, written comments must be received 
by close of business on January 15, 1999.

III. Public Record and Electronic Submissions

    The official record for this rulemaking, as well as the public 
version, has been established for this rulemaking under docket control 
number OPPTS-00256 (including comments and data submitted 
electronically as described in this unit). A public version of this 
record, including printed, paper versions of electronic comments, which 
does not include any information claimed as CBI, is available for 
inspection from 12 noon to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding 
legal holidays. The official rulemaking record is located in the TSCA 
Nonconfidential Information Center, Rm. NE-B607, 401 M St., SW., 
Washington, DC.
    Electronic comments can be sent directly to EPA at:

    [email protected]

    Electronic comments must be submitted as an ASCII file avoiding the 
use of special characters and any form of encryption. Comments and data 
will also be accepted on disks in WordPerfect 5.1/6.1 or ASCII file 
format. All comments and data in electronic form must be identified by 
the docket control number OPPTS-00256. Electronic comments on this 
proposed rule may be filed online at many Federal Depository Libraries.

List of Subjects in 40 CFR Part 745

    Environmental protection, Hazardous substances, Lead-based paint, 
Lead poisoning, Reporting and recordkeeping requirements.

    Dated: November 18, 1998.

William H. Sanders, III,

Director, Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics.

[FR Doc. 98-31400 Filed 11-19-98; 2:42 pm]
BILLING CODE 6560-50-F